Remote Health Monitoring (RHM) is the assessment of one's own symptoms at home between doctor visits, using things like at-home breathing tests, electronic diaries to answer questionnaires, and other monitoring devices. The hypothesis of this study is that the health and quality of life of people with COPD who do RHM for one year will be better than people with COPD who do not do RHM. Subjects who are at least 40 years old, have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and are current or former smokers will be invited to participate. This study is paid for by eResearch Technology (eRT).

Subjects will complete 2 visits at UCLA, separated by one year of RHM. All subjects will participate in RHM. RHM will involve daily monitoring at home using a few electronic devices: blood oxygen levels, symptoms, medication use, breathing tests, and activity monitoring. Visits will include physical exam and medical history, ECG, questionnaires, breathing tests, and exercise tests.

Subjects assigned to this arm will conduct daily at-home health monitoring using several electronic devices that will transmit data back to the study team. Everyday, subjects will measure pulse oximetry (SpO2) using a finger clip, answer questions about symptoms and medication use, answer a quality of life questionnaire, perform breathing tests, and record physical activity (using a physical activity monitor that will be mailed to the study team). Wearing the activity monitor is optional and will only occur during months 1, 6, and 12.

Any other active disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the safety of the subject at risk through study participation (e.g. unstable cardiovascular disease, renal failure, stroke).

Previously diagnosed cancer is considered a significant disease unless it is in complete remission for 2 years at the initial visit.

Any other disease that is life-threatening and carries a prognosis less than two years that, in the opinion of the investigator, is likely to influence the clinical course during the conduct of this trial.

Myocardial infarction within 6 weeks of enrolment.

Use of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) prescribed for greater than 12 hours a day.

A known or suspected history of drug or alcohol abuse within 2 years prior to the initial visit.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01495780